September 30, 2007

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In the first major sign of social conservative anxiety that Rudy Giuliani will be the Republican presidential nominee next year, a group of Christian right leaders unanimously backed a resolution Saturday indicating a willingness to back a third-party candidate should a pro-choice candidate win the GOP nomination. The move came in a private meeting among top members of the Council for National Policy (CNP), a secretive coalition of prominent Christian conservatives, gathered for a conference in Salt Lake City.

The resolution stated, "If the Republican Party nominates a pro-abortion candidate, we will consider running a third-party candidate," and was voted on by such leaders of the conservative movement as Focus on the Family founder James Dobson, direct mail pioneer Richard Viguerie, the Family Research Council's Tony Perkins and Leadership Institute founder Morton Blackwell. A participant at the meeting -- the news of which was first reported by Salon.com -- emphasized that it and the vote were separate from the broader CNP conference.

Perkins discussed the presidential campaign, laying out the very real possibility of Giuliani winning the nomination, but an attendee speaking on the condition of anonymity because it was an off-the-record session said a South Dakota businessman named Robert S. Fischer "was the driving force" behind the resolution.

Fischer, the president of a Rapid City-based furniture store, is a one-time board member of CNP but is not well-known beyond the tight-knit world of Christian conservatives. He could not be reached Sunday and records indicate that he has not contributed to any presidential candidate this cycle.

Another key player in the resolution was Dobson, said the attendee. "He's anxious to let values voters know how he feels," noted the source. "There is no way he would ever support a pro-abortion candidate."
Split over their preferred candidates or dissatisfied with their options, the leaders of many "values voters" organizations are growing increasingly concerned that the pro-choice, pro-gay-rights and thrice-married Giuliani will become the standard-bearer of the party they've largely taken hold of over the past 30 years. Now they're indicating that they won't sit by silently and watch such an eventuality take place.

"If he were to get the nomination, it would probably be the last election that we would have a serious Republican candidate for president," predicted Viguerie in a telephone interview Sunday night. "The conservative movement is not going to stand for his approach. He's wrong on every single social issue and wrong on Second Amendment. If the Republican Party insists on nominating that person, they are saying one thing to the American public: The only thing that motivates us is power. And that’s probably the end of the Republican Party."

Viguerie -- who has become deeply unhappy with the condition of the GOP in recent years -- offers a grim assessment, but he's not alone in sending up a warning flare to the party about what a Giuliani candidacy would bring from Christian conservatives.

"The signal is out there that you nominate him and we walk," Paul Weyrich said in a separate interview Sunday. The founder of the Free Congress Foundation and one of the first members of the CNP, Weyrich didn't attend the meeting but said he wasn't surprised by the decision.

"There is a great deal of anxiety that some in the Christian community have put security and the fight against Islamo-fascism ahead of the pro-life movement."

Asked to comment on the resolution, Giuliani's campaign issued a statement from Rep. Pete Sessions, a conservative Texan backing the former mayor's bid.

"Conservatives are rallying around the one candidate with the executive experience and proven leadership our country needs," Sessions said. "Mayor Giuliani will be successful in the primary and the general elections because Republicans want a candidate who is strong on the Terrorists' War on Us, gets fiscal discipline and can beat the Democratic nominee."

It's the last of these three attributes that Giuliani and his campaign have been increasingly touting in recent weeks. As it becomes more likely that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton will win the Democratic nomination, Giuliani backers believe it's easier for them to take the GOP nomination because, they think, the party will take a more pragmatic tack in its hunger to defeat the despised Clinton. And while seeking to make amends with some elements of the movement -- see Giuliani's appearance two weeks ago before the NRA -- they also recognize that some conservatives will never be won over.

It was for this reason that Giuliani -- along with each of his top Republican rivals -- skipped a "Values Voter" debate earlier this month in Florida, and why he is the only top-tier GOP candidate not yet committed to a major conference being put on in Washington next month by Perkins' Family Research Council.

While urging Giuliani to reconsider, Perkins said in an interview last week that Giuliani's absence from the gathering would amount to him "essentially saying [to Christian conservatives], 'I don't need you; I'm not concerned about your issues.'"

But Perkins and other social conservative leaders made plain that the movement was not coalescing around any of Giuliani's rivals. Thanks in part to his support of campaign finance reform, Sen. John McCain is widely disliked among conservative leaders. And because of his opposition to a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, former Sen. Fred Thompson has been something of a disappointment. As for former Gov. Mitt Romney, he's saying all the right things now, but his Mormon faith and change of heart on key social issues make him imperfect, too.

Viguerie said Romney spoke to the broader CNP event and did only "OK."

"He knew his audience and he had been prepped. But he didn't close any sale by a long shot."

Anyway, Viguerie said, he and other conservative leaders are fed up with the lip service they receive from candidates at election time. The failure of President Bush to champion the marriage amendment issue has particularly stuck in their craw after all the assurances they got about the matter and the prominence it received in the 2004 election. Now, as demonstrated by the abortion resolution, they're indicating a willingness to speak out and, if necessary, challenge the party head-on.

"We’re just so tired of being treated like mistresses," said Viguerie. "We have these private meetings and then you hold public office and you ignore us."

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Looks like giuliani's theory that he can beat hillary just went down the drain. The only thing the liberal girliani can do is run a campain full of cell phone gimmicks and 9/11 references. However, it's still funny as h*ll how bad girliani flip flopped on gun control. *Maybe I could have voted for girliani if he didn't flip flop on gun control! *Maybe I could have voted for girliani if he didn't say that illegal immigration should not be a crime!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *Maybe I could have voted for him if he hadn't significantly added to our illegal immigration problem by keeping New York a sanctuary city for illegal immigrants while he was mayor!!! *Maybe I could have voted for him if he didn't now take credit for tax cuts that he tried to stop while he was mayor! *Maybe I could have voted for him if he wasn't pro-choice! *Maybe I could have voted for him if he didn't marry his cousin! *Maybe I could have voted for him if he didn't dump his wives every few years! *Maybe I could have voted for him if his wife didn't kill dogs by demonstrating surgical staplers on them to boost sales of the stapler! *Maybe I could have voted for him if he didn't dress in drag! *Maybe I could have voted for him if he didn't look so much like elmer fudd! *Maybe I could have voted for him if he didn't talk with such a bad lisp! And ***Maybe I could have voted for him if he would have done his job that mayors are suppose to do; "take care of illegal immigration". That is a Mayors job not Govenors job!!!

Wow! Nothing would make me happier than to see the Religious Right relegated to the political wilderness of the "3rd Party". THANK GOD!!! These people, with their racist sexist homophobic xenophobic ideology should have been marginalized a long time ago, but better late than never I suppose.

I'm a Giuliani supporter, but... the religious right has ever right to run a third party candidate if they want. If Hillary wins, then they will have lost the election, but made their point (that the Repub party needs them). But, if Giuliani wins anyway, they will have lost the election... and their party.

Christian Conservatives are nothing but hypocrites in sheep clothing. For any of them to think that a President has any say over or power at overturning the Abortion issue is ridiculous. At least Rudy says he will appoint Supreme Court Justices who oppose Abortion and it is highly likely the next President will appoint at least two possibly three Justices. So for this ONE issue of Abortion they are willing to turn over the White House to a Democrat who supports and appoint Abortion Judges. WOW. That makes a lot sense. This sounds like the hypocritical Catholic Church Leaders who opposes Abortion but cuddles up to Democrats and Kerry but renounces Rudy Giuliani for supporting a womens right to choose. WOW. Any more hypocritical religious zealots of this kind and I will pewk and I will stop going to church.

Mike Huckabee could be the MAN waiting in the wings for someone to come forward and annoint him as the SAVIOR of the Conservative Right. The man MIKE is more than qualified and ready. And if this happens LOOK OUT he could turn this GOP race and the national race into a ducey.

Mike Huckabee could be the MAN waiting in the wings for someone to come forward and annoint him as the SAVIOR of the Conservative Right. The man MIKE is more than qualified and ready. And if this happens LOOK OUT he could turn this GOP race and the national race into a ducey.

Conbug: All this talk about a third party candidate is just the religious right's way of threatening the Republican Party... and ambushing the Giuliani campaign. So far, nothing else has worked, so... who knows... maybe this will. It's very likely that one of the other candidates are behind it as well. But... I agree with you about Huckabee. Why doesn't the religious right just back him--he's exactly what they're looking for. I think that what we're actually seeing is that a lot (maybe most) religious conservatives don't just vote on abortion and gay marriage. Like most voters, they realize that terrorism is the biggest issue of the day... and which candidates are strongest on that issue--Giuliani and McCain.

giuliani is not the toughest on terrorism! just because he happend to be there and was in charge of the aftermath does not make him tougher on terrorism. most americans are mad as hell about what those SOB's did with those airplanes and we would love to get them just as bad as giuliani. giuliani is not smarter, or tougher on terrorism than mccain, or romney. He just happend to be there on that day.

if giuliani was so *** **** smart and tough on terrorism, why didn't he learn from all of the previous attacks on the world trade center and stop 9/11. just because he was there doesn't make him mr. tough guy!

"This sounds like the hypocritical Catholic Church Leaders who opposes Abortion but cuddles up to Democrats and Kerry but renounces Rudy Giuliani for supporting a womens right to choose." - conbug

Kerry?s Communion Controversy

Candidate's Pro-Choice Stance Riles Catholic Leadership

April 6, 2004 - Amid questions of how Catholic leadership will respond to the pro-choice senator, Kerry's archbishop -- Boston's own Sean O'Malley -- has refused to clarify a statement last summer that pro-choice Catholics are in a state of grave sin and cannot take communion properly.

Adding to the fray in February, St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke forbade Kerry from taking communion while campaigning in the area due to Kerry's stance on abortion and possibly stem cell research.

Dear Lord, I pray that your most obnoxious followers may be stupid enough to form a third party, therebye assuring a Democratic victory. Only then, Lord, may this country find the peace and prosperity it enjoyed for eight years under our previous president. Amen.

I do sure hope the religious right does do this, and thereby assures a democratic victory. i hope the dems get wind of this, and fund it and support the same way the Right funded and supported the Greens in the last election.
may either party be undone by their extremists. God bless the center.

The irony is Perkins supports Fred Thompson. How is Freddie any different than Giuliani? Perkins and his friends prove how broken the Republican party has become. This group of nonprofit, zealots, need to take thier Christian Embassy, thier Regent and Liberty quotas and get out of government.

********* Mitt Alert ***********
American Research has news polls out today. Now Mitt Romney leads all other GOP candidates in Iowa, New Hamshire, and yes SOUTH CAROLINIA (Mitt @ 26%, Rudy @ 23%, Fred @ 10%, and John @ 15%) .............WOW ! The tipping point may be starting. This is extremely great news for the Romney campaign and all Amercans since Mitt IS the most qualified to lead this nation forward. GO Mitt........!! Thoughts anyone?

It's a wonderful day when the evangelicals are relegated to some third party wilderness. They have been the albatross of the Republican Party for nearly two decades. Rudy's nomination and the self-imposed exile of the Bible thumpers will be a much-needed cleansing for the Republican Party.

Rhino you need to get off your soap box and face the facts. Rudy needs to stop touting that he is the only candidate that can beat Hillary. In fact, he may be the worse. It appears people are finally starting to realize where he stands socially.

What needs to be considered is a potential Hillary or Obama presidency . Any current Republican candidate would be superior. If social conservatives seek to make the rest of us conservatives 'pay' for supporting a Giuliani or a Thompson by running a spoiler, they'll become irrelevant.

This "threat" is totally bogus... probably perpetuated by one of the other candidates (most likely one who's getting desperate). The facts are that Giuliani leads in EVERY voting block of the Republican Party, and that includes "values voters" and Christian conservatives. Also, the new fundraising numbers are coming in, and Rudy wins again--expected to bring in $12-$15 million. Thompson hauled in $8 million. And Romney just under $10 million (though he's "donating" $7 million of his own money... to stay competitive with Rudy). Those are the facts. It's possible that some religious leaders are upset that Rudy's leading; however, the grassroots voters are supporting him anyway... for the same reason all other Republican voting blocks are supporting him. He's the strongest candidate.

I think I've got Rhino figured out. When he's not careful, he can actually think. But when he's paying attention, he only has a binary brain. "(Insert eye roll)" for anything positive for a competitor (especially Romney) and "This 'threat' is totally bogus" for anything negative regarding Giuliani. Guy has lots of time on his hands.

If the Right Wing, or Christian right of the GOP still hold the McCain/Feingold Campaign Finance Law against John McCain, they deserve to lose.
This is the costliest election in US history, and if we could eliminate the most important factor in the equation (payback from our elected officials to these huge donors/special interests/corporations) many of our political issues could be resolved.
Money does not equal free speech when a huge donation can affect policy, and small donations of most average Americans affects nothing. This only re-enforces that our democracy is a facad, a joke. The real leaders are the corporate powers etc.
The first amendment rights of most of American is infringed upon without campaign finance laws.

If you have been paying attention over time, you'll notice that a politician or donor that wants to cheat will cheat. And there are all kinds of legal but dubious ways to use money to support a politician or an agenda. What we need to be careful about is not tying that hands of honest politicians or causes so that they cannot compete with the dishonest ones.

You can see Trump smooching drag queen, Rudy Giuliani on You Tube. It is a 46 sec. video. It is pretty outrageous. If I were the Dems I would wait just before Rudy gets the nomination then widely circulate it to politically cut his throat.

I am sad that the Religious Right are unhappy with the Republic Party and Rudy. Now with the Supreme Court not hearing two church-state issues one over religious organizations paying for workers' birth-control health insurance benefits, the other over an evangelical group's plea to hold religious services at a public library. What are they going to do? Sad day for the RR.

Gulliani is the smartest in the group.I thought they were all smart when they choseto skip the Holy Debate in Florida. The top tier candidates should realize even if they jumped through hoops for these Christians theres no way they could ever be supported by these zealots. So why show up for somebody whos not gonna vote for you anyway. Plus these candidates are probably aware that these people are going to play very little part in the next election. They have no enthusiasm for any of the candidates and unless the repugs can get them fired up about some bogus issue, gay marriage, flag burning, you know the same old, same old these people won't be showing up at any polls to soon. With all social moderates on the top tier and all the conservatives on the bottom tier do ya think they might get the hint that their time is passed. Its not like they deserve any acceptable candidate afterall they more than anybody helped destroy the Repub Party

"I first came to Washington because power was consolidated at the hands of unions and today I fight against it being at the hands of preachers."- Barry Goldwater
"Mark my word, if and when these preachers get control of the [Republican] party, and they're sure trying to do so, it's going to be a terrible problem. Frankly, these people frighten me. Politics and governing demand compromise. But these Christians believe they are acting in the name of God, so they can't and won't compromise. I know, I've tried to deal with them. "- Barry Goldwater

Wow! I had no idea the Christian right were such bigots. I once aligned myself with that faction of the party. Ever since Mitt Romney got into the race they have shown how ignorant and intolerant they really are. He's Mormon, so what?! He has all the same values the Christian right looks for.

The Second Amendment notwithstanding, the issues social conservatives tout have nothing to do with the success of a country. Rather, they should be voting for lower taxes, smaller government and a strong military. Rudy represents these initiatives, and strong leadership. These are important issues.

The logical choice for the religious right's third party hissy fit is Mike Huckabee. But Huckabee would never do it. He knows that his political future is inside the Republican Party, not outside it. If he handed the WH to Hillary, he's career is over. The more logical course is for Giuliani to pick him as his runningmate. If the evangelicals can't deal with that then, as they say, Don't let the door hit you on the way out!

In reference to the suggestion that the Huck be nominated I say: You want Gomer Pile to be our president. The guy who can't raise any money and would get crushed in the general election by the fundraising monster Hillary. I say no way!

Geez, Social Conservatives are nuts and they need to have their brains examined!
Viguerie does NOT speak for this Republican!
The religious zealots needs to STOP carrying the carrot stick over the Republican party structure on issues that are controversial and focus on issues that are winnable.
By doing what they are going to do will guarantee the election of Hillary for President. Is this what THEY really want? Get real folks!

Although Mike Huckabee has an obviously sincere, unflinching and still "non-judgmental" faith, that's not nearly the only thing that recommends him as the best candidate for President.
A close inspection of Rudy shows him to be just a Hillary that seems to at least be sincerely interested in defeating America's enemies. He just doesn't have the overall conservative positions AND HISTORY that will bring conservatives to the polls to join moderate republicans in defeating Democrat party.
An honest and thorough examination of all the Republican candidates will show that Mike Huckabee is not only the best person for the office, but has the best chance of bringing a flood of conservative AND moderate Republican voters to the poles, once he has won the nomination and the financial support of the GOP.

Don't believe it! I don't believe that the CR, having worked for 30 years to take over the Repub party, will throw it all away in one election. They have effectively repealed the First Amendment as it applies to religion. Our founders wanted a government with separate branches which would check and balance each other. The CR has been effective in eliminating checks and balances. Presidents, from Jefferson on, have expanded the powers of the federal government to meet this country's expanded responsibilities. The CR, through its minion Grover Norquist, has been very effective at destroying the federal government by (a) engaging in one misguided war after another thereby sucking money from the rest of the government. (b) enacting hundreds of "earmarks" by which members of Congress, not the experts hired by the federal government, determined the nation's priorities. I don't what their agenda is, but we'll find out soon enough.

Here is the problem. Perkins, Land and many of these nonprofit, thugs, have pushed candidates like Fred Thompson, when the guy is not any different than Giuliani! Freddie is a centrist coalition, fair weather federalist. The only difference is the fact he had a safe red state. I'll take any of candidates with demonstrated leadership over what the 501 thugs want to push.

It would help if these so called leaders consulted the voters. There is no first tier candidate that suits these dummies. Their candidate Fred Flintstone is going down in flames. Since all GOP candidates are pro-war, as are all dem candidates because they are on both sides of the fence I nominate myself because none of the above is any good. So far Ron Paul, Barack Obama are the only hope to end the useless Iraq war and neither has a chance due to the deluded voters.